Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly reports that in July tailing redfish can be found on good flood tides when they are in the short grass eating fiddler crabs, and on moving tides fishing live or cut bait in areas where they ambush prey is a good bet. There should also continue to be a good bite on lower tides around docks and other structure. The trout bite was very good in June and should continue into July, and fish will be caught on both live bait and imitation shrimp drifted around grass lines and in front of shell beds in clean, moving water. Rock close to the ocean has also been a trout magnet recently. There should also continue to be a good topwater bite for multiple species early, and jacks and tarpon showed up in late June and should be around until the fall. Flounder fishing can be good with live finger mullet, mud minnows, or soft plastics, especially close to the ocean. Sheepshead are also around inshore, but generally they are on the small to medium side. Finally, keep your eyes open for tripletail in the rivers – especially closer to the ocean.

Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly reports that June is an excellent month in Beaufort for a number of species, and even as air temperatures get hotter the fish typically still bite very well. A good year for cobia means the fishing is likely to extend into June in the Broad River, and fish should continue to be caught sight-casting with flies, lures, and live bait. Redfish can be found tailing at high tide on the main river grass flats where they are eating fiddler crabs, and at lower stages of the tide you can find them in deep holes surrounded by shallow water in the smaller creeks or around docks. Redfish will eat a wide variety of baits and lures. Trout can be caught this month fishing along grass lines at higher stages of the tide with live shrimp or mud minnows under a popping cork, and you will also pick up other species this way including bluefish, aerially exciting ladyfish, and more. Also, don’t overlook an early topwater bite for trout, reds, and sometimes other species. On the bottom around structure and creek mouths you can catch flounder with mud minnows, finger mullet, or artificial baits, while fishing fiddler crabs around docks and downed trees is a great way to pick up sheepshead and sometimes black drum. Finally, the inlets have delicious whiting that will take small pieces of shrimp and abundant sharks that will take cut bait.

Inshore: Captain Patrick Kelly reports that as temperatures rise and even more bait starts to return in May the redfish should feed more regularly. The tailing activity at high tide should pick up as reds devour consistently available fiddler crabs, and fish should also eat better at low and moving tides in the creeks. Docks will continue to hold fish. If you can get live shrimp they are hard to beat, but finger mullet, small menhaden, mud minnows, and more will also catch redfish. Trout fishing should also pick up in moving water over shell bars, and both jigs and shrimp will catch fish - as well as finfish baits. Big roe trout will be in the main rivers to spawn. Topwater activity for both trout and reds should also improve this month during low light periods, but the most exciting development in May is usually that the cobia return in numbers to the Broad River. A few had already been seen by late April, and people will catch them both sight-fishing and anchoring baits on the bottom. Tripletail, bluefish, ladyfish, and other migratory species will also be around in ever-greater numbers, and the bigger flounder should continue to show up after starting to trickle back inshore during April. Finally, don’t overlook the sheepshead bite around docks and other structure on fiddler crabs – especially before it gets very hot and patterns change.